With another Marvel/Netflix series comes another Pop Culture Club to get you in the know before taking another 13-hour dive into the world of the MCU's gritty New York setting. This time, the destination is Harlem and the hero of the day is Luke Cage in Marvel's Luke Cage. Here's everything you need to know about the first Hero for Hire and his entourage.

In case you missed it, here's the latest trailer for Luke Cage.

Luke Cage is a face you've already met before in Marvel's Jessica Jones, but you haven't seen his full story yet. Neither have you seen him kicking ass and taking names quite like this. Marvel's Luke Cage takes Cage back to Harlem to rebuild his life sans-Jessica Jones. The only problem is that his past catches up with him. Hard. The fight for control of the streets of Harlem has only just begun.​

Caged Animal

Luke Cage, otherwise known as Power Man (And previously as Carl Lucas), is a classic 1970's Marvel hero. After being sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit, he volunteers for superhuman testing which goes wrong after the machinery involved is tampered with. Cage developed superhuman strength and durability, with the added kick of unbreakable skin, which he uses to escape prison and embarks on a career in superhero activity, later teaming up with a martial artist called Danny Rand, aka Iron Fist. He moves around the country saving people and solving crimes before coming back to Hell's Kitchen.

There, he meets Jessica Jones, and after a one night stand, bonds with her whilst working with Matt Murdock. The pair work together to defeat The Purple Man on two separate occasions, which causes them fall in love. They later get married and have a child, whilst continuing to be superheroes and working with The Avengers. Later, they hang up their costumes to live a normal life. But a hero's work is never done, and the pair have continued to jump back into using their powers on multiple occasions, whilst struggling to find a suitable superhuman babysitter for their daughter, Danielle.

Image Credit: comiclegion.com

Cage is played by again Mike Colter, who made his MCU debut in Marvel's Jessica Jones and is also known for his role as Spartan Locke in the Halo franchise. We pick up with Cage about five months after the events of Marvel's Jessica Jones, where he has returned to Harlem after his tenure in Hell's Kitchen. No longer the owner of his own bar, Cage is resorted to menial work to keep a rented roof over his head. After his entanglement with Kilgrave, Luke is keen to stay out of the hero business. However, trouble and corruption on the streets of Harlem means Cage can't stand by and do nothing. Not quite a Hero for Hire yet, this battle is closer to home and certainly more personal.​

The Cotton Industry

An established drug lord in New York, Cornell Cottonmouth unwittingly became tangled in the creation of the unbreakable man Luke Cage after a dealing with Willis Stryker, aka Diamondback. Stryker's desire to put Cage behind bars led to him stealing Cottonmouths supply, which put Cage behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. Known for his sharpened teeth, his powerful punch and his knowledge of poisons and venoms, Cottonmouth was a force to be reckoned with, until it came tumbling down when he tried to kill Luke Cage.

In recent books, Cottonmouth has tried multiple times to set up new crime empires, only to be foiled by Cage, Iron Fist, Misty Knight and the Heroes for Hire.

Image Credit: variety.com

Cornell Stokes, aka Cottonmouth, is played by Mahershala Ali in Marvel's Luke Cage, known for his previous work in The Hunger Games films and most notably in Netflix's House Of Cards. He is the owner of the Paradise night club, as well as the kingpin of Harlem's illegal gun trade. Ali's version of the character lacks the trademark fang-like teeth, but carries all of the power and presence demanded of the Cottonmouth character. This Cottonmouth is seemingly a powerful figure in the Harlem underground scene, with his fingers in the pies of the local government and the criminal underworld. He's the ruthless godfather with the ego and attitude of Biggie Smalls. He'll be king at all costs.​

​Knight-Hood

After being seriously injured preventing a bomb attack, NYPD officer Mercedes 'Misty' Knight is given a bionic arm by none other than Tony Stark, which grants her superhuman strength, technopathy and concussive blasts. Coupled with her martial arts training, dead-eye aim and incredible detective skills, Misty soon became a powerful ally in the New York superhero scene, assisting Spider-Man, Iron Fist, Luke Cage and most recently Sam Wilson as Captain America.

Misty is also known for her troubled romantic relationship with Danny Rand, aka Iron Fist. Their troubled history has seen a number of breakups, a false pregnancy and an affair with Luke Cage that broke up the Heroes for Hire. Most recently, Misty was responsible for bringing the Heroes for Hire back together, as well as a notable member of the Fearless Defenders.

Image Credit: superherohype.com

Simone Missick takes on the mantle of Misty Knight for Netflix, who previously appeared in Wayward Pines. In this series, Misty is a Harlem police detective who has an uncanny ability to analyse crime scenes and play out the scenarios in her head. She may lack the Stark Industries arm, but her combat and detective ability is more than intact. She is also doing things 100% by the book, until Luke Cage becomes a part of her life. She isn't intended to be a romantic interest for Cage (Remember, Jessica is still around), rather an unlikely partner who will change her view on how justice works in the age of the superhero.​

Harlem Heat

Harlem is full of players of the dangerous power game that Cottonmouth is spearheading. Theo Rossi (Sons Of Anarchy) plays 'Shades' Alvarez, a Harlem-raised thug who has a past with Cage, which may tie into his experimentation in Seagate Prison. His comics origin places him as an old affiliate of Cage who goes bad, known for his strength and signature visor which propels energy blasts. The Netflix variant has Rossi play him as a smart crook who's served his time and knows all about Luke Cage. He's playing the long game, with Cottonmouth as a necessary pawn in his strategy.

Image Credit: marvel.com

Alfre Woodard (12 Years A Slave) plays Mariah Dillard, known in the books as Black Mariah. Comics-wise, she's a minor villain of Cages, known for her gang, The Rat Pack, who has tussled with the Heroes For Hire on a few occasions after multiple street crimes and the distribution of the Acid-Z drug. Woodard's version of the character is a relative of Cottonmouths who uses the ill-gained blood money to fund her political campaign as a city councilwoman for Harlem.

Image Credit: marvel.com

Some Speculation

Here's what could go down in Marvel's Luke Cage. bear in mind, this is speculation.

It's possible that Misty could end up losing her arm, it being such a staple of her character. I highly doubt that RDJ will descend from upon high as Iron Man to help her get that fancy new cybernetic arm, but it does set up Misty quite nicely to enter the fray proper, perhaps as a support character in Agents of SHIELD or The Defenders.

Cottonmouth is our main villain, but I doubt he will be the big bad or even the final boss fight. Diamondback, played by Erik LaRay Harvey, will probably fill that role, given the more supervillain-esque nature of his abilities, which include hand-to-hand combat and knife throwing. Cottonmouth's dealing with Justin Hammer's tech may give Cottonmouth the gear he needs to go toe-to-toe with Cage.

Image Credit: marvel.com

Black Mariah is known for her possession of something called the 'Supersoul Stone', as well as her substantial weight in the Marvel comics. Hear me out, this will sound weird. I reckon that the Mariah in this series is likely to give up the idea of being legal about half way through the series, as many reports have suggested a twist occurs about half way through. Re-purpose the Supersoul Stone into an unclaimed Chitauri artefact from the Battle of New York and suddenly we have a way for Woodard to suddenly gain weight/muscle and join the fight against Cage herself.

Luke Cage is the second-to-last series before the Defenders mini series, so it's likely there will be some connections not only to the Defenders but to his soon-to-be new best friend, Danny Rand. Rand Meachum is still a known entity in this world, as is Rosario Dawson's Claire Temple, who's confirmed to cameo. I doubt Finn Jones's Rand will make an appearance, but murmurings of a fourth superhuman roaming New York isn't totally crazy.

Seagate Prison has also been the home of both Justin Hammer and Trevor Slattery, the man who was once the Mandarin. Neither of them will turn up for sure, but Hammer's name is mentioned in the first episode and the 'real' Mandarin has broken into Seagate before. A name drop would be cool, but doubtful. Instead, the reputation of the people who've passed through Seagate's doors is probably something that will be revered across Harlem.

Luke Cage is set to be the most grounded of the already grounded Marvel/Netflix series, focusing more on the real blood on blood violence that Marvel's Harlem is famed for. Critics have already praised the production for it's depiction of Cage and a story that does justice to the source material, with a rap-infused exploration of Harlem's black culture. Hopefully it will prove to be a breath of fresh air and the start of something great for the former Power Man.

Image Credit: screenrant.com

Marvel's Luke Cage premieres today, 30th September 2016, on Netflix. All 13 episodes will be instantly available for streaming. Check back in the coming days for a PopScorn/Pop Culture Club series review.